"I'm driven by a desire to smartly manage our law enforcement resources, as well as to protect and serve the residents of our great county at a high level," Gildersleeve said. "I plan to seek the office of Saratoga County sheriff and accomplish those goals."

Advertisement

Gildersleeve, a Ballston Lake resident, retired after 26 years as a senior investigator with the New York State Police. He now works as a part-time investigator for the Warren County Sheriff's Department.

With the state police, Gildersleeve led a Drug Enforcement Administration task force comprised of officers and agents from various state and local law enforcement agencies. He said thousands of felony arrests and prosecutions resulted from his supervision.

Gildersleeve said his training and experience with numerous agencies and dealing with a variety of individuals gives him a leg up on his competitor, Michael Zurlo, who served for 32 years in the Saratoga County Sheriff's Department and recently resigned as a Stillwater town judge to run for sheriff.

Jack Sadousky, a retired sergeant from the state park police, also announced his candidacy for Saratoga County sheriff April 29.

Gildersleeve said he will seek an endorsement from the Republican Party, and he intends to speak with the Independent and Conservative parties as well.

He identifies himself as a fiscal conservative and said he believes, "If you don't have it, don't spend it."

This is Gildersleeve's first experience in the political arena.

"I openly admit that I'm not a politician; that's because I believe this position is about public safety and not politics," he said.

Gildersleeve has already earned the support of the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, which announced its endorsement Monday.

"Our endorsement is based upon his background as a firearms instructor who has educated students on safety, responsibility and shooting skills, as well as his strong commitment to the preservation of Second Amendment civil rights," the group said in a press release.